Luther / Klug, 1533
Composer
Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, the son of a copper miner. He studied law at Erfurt before entering the Augustinian monastery in 1505. After receiving his doctorate in theology he became professor of biblical theology at Wittenberg. His posting of the 95 Theses in 1517 sparked the Protestant Reformation. Luther understood music as a gift of God second only to theology and composed or adapted at least 37 hymn tunes. His most famous hymn, Ein feste Burg (A Mighty Fortress), became the anthem of the Reformation. He translated the Bible into German, produced the Small and Large Catechisms, and wrote prolifically on theology. He married Katharina von Bora in 1525 and they had six children.